Cannabis at Work: How Employers Are Reacting to the Legalization of Marijuana

By Adam C. Uzialko, Writer February 1, 2019 03:34 pm EST

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Credit: Yeko Photo Studio/Shutterstock

Although cannabis remains a federally illegal substance, the number of states that permit its use is growing rapidly. Currently, 10 states plus Washington, D.C., have legalized the cultivation, possession and use of marijuana, while 33 states have legalized some form of a medical marijuana program. These policy developments have created a new challenge for employers who require drug testing either as part of the employee onboarding process or periodically.

Naturally, employers have a financial interest in ensuring that employees are not coming to work intoxicated, but cannabis use off the clock would result in a failed drug test as well. Are employers responding to the shift in state laws by relaxing their drug policies to allow for employee consumption outside the confines of the workplace? Or are they keeping the same rules in place for fear of on-shift cannabis use?

Cannabis laws changing quickly

In two decades, cannabis legalization has gone from a fringe issue to a national discussion. In the 1990s, only five states plus Washington, D.C., had a legal medical marijuana program. That number gradually crept up to eight states plus D.C. after the turn of the 20th century, yet legalized adult use (often referred to as recreational use) remained unheard of.

It wasn't until 2012, when Colorado voters passed Amendment 64, that adult-use cannabis was legalized for the first time. In the past seven years, nine more states plus D.C. have legalized adult-use cannabis. Much of this activity occurred via referendum, but Vermont became the first state to legalize cannabis through the legislature. Today, several states are considering doing the same, including New York and New Jersey.

In the same timeframe, the number of states with medical marijuana programs has grown to 33. While cannabis remains an illegal substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, the federal government has largely taken a states-first approach to regulating and enforcing the new cannabis industry that has grown as a result of the changing laws. Some federal lawmakers have even introduced legislation in support of the industry or that calls for outright legalization nationwide.

Cannabis legalization and workplace drug policies

These rapid changes have left many employers in a precarious position. Many employers maintain zero-tolerance policies on drug use and, naturally, don't want their employees showing up to work intoxicated. The legality of cannabis is not the issue; certainly, employees drinking on the job is grounds for termination in any company, despite alcohol's legal status. However, determining whether an employee is using cannabis on the job or on their own time is a bit more difficult, said Matt C. Pinsker, an adjunct professor of homeland security and criminal justice at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs of Virginia Commonwealth University.

"For employers, a key issue involving marijuana is not legalization but workplace safety," said Pinsker, who is also a criminal defense attorney. "The problem for employers is that impairment because of marijuana is usually much more difficult to detect and test for than alcohol. Unlike alcohol, it is very difficult for employers to determine if a positive drug test for marijuana is the result of drug usage during work or on non-work hours, so it is logistically simpler to just have an outright ban."

But in some cases, state law makes workplace drug policy a bit more complicated than a simple blanket ban of cannabis usage.

Adult-use cannabis vs. medical cannabis

There is a significant distinction between adult-use cannabis, which is a leisurely activity of choice, and medical cannabis, which is prescribed as a medicine to patients who have a variety of conditions outlined under state laws. Some states bring that distinction into the workplace, and it can impact the influence employers have when crafting their drug policies.

"Employers must understand their rights and duties when it comes to drug testing, because state laws are evolving," said David Reischer, attorney and CEO of LegalAdvice.com. "Marijuana is still federally illegal, and employers generally are allowed to have a drug-free workplace and to enforce zero-tolerance policies."

However, it's critical to know whether any of your employees are medical marijuana patients and if your state's laws protect their usage of cannabis in the workplace or against the failure of employer-mandated drug tests, Reischer added.

"A company needs to be careful when disciplining medical marijuana users," he said. "Several states have specific laws protecting medical cannabis patients from employment discrimination. Typically, employers can require drug testing before employment and at random times so long as there is no discrimination against medical marijuana users [who] are legally allowed cannabis for medicinal reasons."

Further muddying workplace drug policies is the question of employee morale. Many employees argue that legal usage of cannabis off the clock should not be grounds for their termination if they fail an employer drug test. Employers need to keep in mind the attitude of their workforce when making disciplinary decisions related to drug testing.

How employers are responding

So, how are employers responding to the change in laws and attitudes? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some employers are maintaining tight restrictions and zero-tolerance policies, even for off-the-clock cannabis consumption. Others are relaxing their policies and only disciplining employees for failed drug tests when it's clear their productivity has been negatively impacted. Some employers are even allowing employees to openly consume cannabis on the clock.

Maintaining zero-tolerance drug policies

According to Derek Riedle, owner of cannabis lifestyle company Civilized, the ongoing federal prohibition of cannabis has prompted many employers to maintain strict workplace drug policies, sometimes even for medical cannabis patients.

"We're seeing more and more employers revisit their workplace rules around cannabis, but because it remains illegal at a federal level in the U.S., most companies still have a zero-tolerance policy," Riedle said. "It's more common to see employers loosen up their regulations for patients with a valid medical cannabis card, but even that is not guaranteed."

Tying enforcement of drug policy to job performance

In his cannabis lifestyle company, Riedle permits employees to periodically step away for a consumption break, especially if it prompts a burst of creativity. Other employers, however, have concerns surrounding cannabis consumption as it relates to employee productivity and have enforced their policies accordingly.

"As an employer, I have no plans to relax any drug policies in and around my work environment as we move forward in this new era of cannabis tolerance and legality," said Abtin Hashemian, owner of a Los Angeles-based Subway franchise. "[Against] the backdrop of legalization in California, I've had to terminate employment for several of our employees due to performance-related issues stemming from cannabis intoxication while on the clock."

Hashemian said his franchise's high performance and results-oriented culture is important to him, so he feels obligated to act when productivity is impacted. However, he also said that he is certain many well-performing employees also consume cannabis off the clock and that he is ultimately indifferent to it so long as their work remains up to par. When it comes to medical patients, he added that employers should always consult with an attorney to determine the best approach.

Onsite employee consumption right for some businesses?

One employer we spoke with said it benefits his company to allow employees to consume cannabis not only on the clock, but in the workplace itself. iBAKE Denver is a cannabis club, an establishment where it is legal to consume cannabis and there are no cannabis products for sale. Owner Steve Nelson Jr., known to employees and customers as Thurlow Weed, said his business's unique model lends itself well to allowing employees to consume onsite.

"We've noticed that when we hire employees that do not smoke, our members get a little worried [and wonder] why," Nelson said. "We also have found that, for most employees, it does not affect their work."

Nelson said employee consumption helps his brand-building efforts as an adult-use consumption club, and also helps to establish a relaxed and inviting atmosphere for guests. However, he added, allowing consumption on the clock is clearly not right for everyone, especially businesses that are not in the cannabis industry.

"It’s not for all businesses, or for all employees," he said. "[Employers] need to take careful consideration to what … your employee will be doing. Some tasks are not OK to perform while high."

Trial-and-error period of changing cannabis laws

The states are often referred to as laboratories of democracy, and we've seen this type of trial-and-error approach in cannabis legalization as each state builds on the experiences of its forerunners. As cannabis legalization becomes normalized and more widespread, employers will also have to experiment with different approaches that suit their industry, brand and workplace culture.

Much as with other workplace policies, there is no right or wrong answer. The best approach will be different for each company and, ultimately, is whatever arrangement ensures workplace safety, productivity and high employee morale. As the cannabis legalization debate moves from the states to the halls of Congress, workplace drug policy on cannabis is something more employers should start thinking about.

Adam C. Uzialko

Adam C. Uzialko, a New Jersey native, graduated from Rutgers University in 2014 with a degree in Political Science and Journalism & Media Studies. In addition to his full-time position at Business News Daily and Business.com, Adam freelances for a variety of outlets. An indispensable ally of the feline race, Adam is owned by four lovely cats.